PANAVISION'S SUMMER SIZZLE REEL

From superheroes to hangovers and bridesmaids to horrible bosses, Panavision is proud to have been a part of the slate of films that filled the movie theatres. According to Variety, franchise films were the most successful, fueling the record summer. “For the first time ever, the top five pics of summer were all sequels, each crossing the $200 million mark…” (Daily Variety, Thursday, September 1, 2011)

Those top five included shows supported by Panavision: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2,” “Transformers: Dark of the Moon,” “The Hangover: Part II” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.” In a not-too-distant 7th place was “Thor,” followed by “Captain America” and “Bridesmaids,” again, all Panavision-supported shows.

Currently ranking number one at the box office is “The Help,” lensed by Stephen Goldblatt, ASC and supported out of our Panavision Dallas office. Summer saw the release of a variety of box office hits, including “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” shot by Andrew Lesnie and supported by Panavision Vancouver, “The Smurfs,” shot by Phil Meheux, BSC, using Genesis cameras and supported by Panavision New York, “Harry Potter…Deathly Hallows: Part 2,” lensed by Eduardo Serra, ASC, AFC, and supported by Panavision UK. “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” was supported by Panavision Woodland Hills through a complex multi-country shoot with Red Mysterium X cameras on Pace rigs. Since then, other shows shot in 3D and supported by Panavision include “The Darkest Hour” shot by Scott Kevan and supported by Panavision Hollywood and “A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas” shot by Michael Barrett and prepped out of Panavision Woodland Hills. (Both films are upcoming Christmas releases.) And, of course, the lead-in to summer sizzled with “Thor,” shot by Haris Zambarloukos, BSC in anamorphic using the Panaflex Millennium XL, the Platinum and a Panavised ARRI 435.